Flathead High School junior Zach Perrin already has good reasons to run. It’s healthy. It teaches life lessons. He enjoys it.
But his reason for running 50 miles in a single day in mid-December is unlike the rest, and it’s quite admirable for a 16-year-old teenager: Perrin is running to raise money for a 12-year-old girl diagnosed with leukemia whose family doesn’t have health insurance.
When Perrin’s grandmother told him about Jamie Founds’ diagnosis, he decided he wanted to help Founds and her family out, and running just seemed like the most natural way to do it. Perrin is a standout long distance runner on Flathead’s cross country and track teams.
Perrin said the Founds family lives in Marion at the Moose Crossing RV and mobile home community, which is owned by his grandmother. Though Perrin doesn’t know the Founds family well, he was touched by Jamie’s story and he saw a way to help her through his Social Entrepreneurship Club at school.
“I’ve always used running for myself – running is an individual thing,” Perrin said. “I thought it would be really cool to use running to help somebody else. Plus, it’s my passion.”
According to a flyer for the run, Perrin “would like to acknowledge Jamie’s strength and courage by challenging his own body” to a 50-mile run on Dec. 17. The course hasn’t been fully plotted yet, but Perrin said he will run from Lakeside to the West Glacier area – snow or shine, unless the weather really gets out of hand.
Perrin is asking people to either pledge by the mile or make general donations. He is distributing posters around town and his grandmother is promoting the event as well. As of last week, Perrin said his grandmother’s store had already collected close to $2,000.
“I think we can raise a lot of money for her and her family,” Perrin said. “I think we can do $10,000.”
Perrin said the farthest he has ever run is roughly 20 miles, but he feels that his training routine leading up to Dec. 17 will prepare him sufficiently for 50 miles. Before then, however, he must train for another event, the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships West Regional in Walnut, Calif. on Dec. 3.
After not taking any local runners for a few years, Flathead cross country coach Paul Jorgensen is bringing four runners to the Foot Locker regional this year, Perrin said. Joining Perrin are Columbia Falls senior Derrick Williams, Glacier junior Troy Fraley and Bigfork freshman Makena Morley, the only girl of the bunch.
Flathead High School has a history of success at Foot Locker, including Zoe Nelson’s national championship in 2001 and Seth Watkins’ record-breaking regional performance in 2000. It will be Perrin’s first time participating in Foot Locker and a welcome break from running in Montana’s frigid winter weather.
“It will be nice to get warm and then I’ll come back here and run in the cold weather again,” Perrin said.
Perrin said the Social Entrepreneurship Club from school will set up aid stations along the 50-mile run where he can warm up, get food and changes clothes if necessary. He is also hoping to get Williams, Fraley and other friends to join him for portions of the run, perhaps in 10-mile increments.
“Having company will make it a lot easier for me,” Perrin said. “It will be really nice.”
Last week, Perrin said Founds was at the Seattle Children’s Hospital undergoing chemotherapy. He’s looking forward to visiting with her when she returns.
“I’d like to talk to her soon to let her know people care,” Perrin said.
To donate or pledge money, call the Perrins’ home at (406) 844-3290 and ask for Lisa, Zach’s mother. Or look for “Jamie Founds Fundraiser” on Facebook.